Support for light sources



Aug. 18, 1936. M. WILDEBOER 2,051,508 y SUPPORT FOR LIGHT SOURCES Filed Feb. 19, 1954 Patented ug. 18, 1.936

PATENT OFFICE SUPPORT FOR. LIGHT SOURCES Marinus Wildeboer, Eindhoven, Nethcrlandsyassignor, by mesne assignments, to N.Vv V. Philips? Gloeilampenfabrieken,

Eindhoven, Netherlands, a Dutch company Application February 19, 1934, Serial No. 712,017

' In Germany March23, 1933 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a. novel supporting means for light sources or ray-generating sources requiring to be conveniently moved into various operating positions, for instancer for the 5 support of adjustably-mounted X-ray tubes.

It is well known to support such a source, for instance, an X-ray tube, on a support consisting of a column provided with a vertical slidable a which carries the X-ray tube.

In the known constructions the arm as a rule is attached to a carrier which clasps or' embraces the column. The arm usually consists either of a rod asymmetrically `disposed on one side of the column or of two rails symmetrically arranged on the two sides of they column.

Such known arrangements have the drawback that when the carrier arms consist of a single rod provided on one Vside of the column, the support is not Well balanced and usually not very stable, Whereas with two rails one on each side of the column the arm is wider than the column and is over-dimensioned as far as mechanical stress is concerned, as the stress on the arm is less than on the column. Such arrangement, therefore, involvesra too large and too heavy arm.

.One object of the invention is to provide a sup--v port having a great stability and which at the same time requires a carrying arm which is narrower than `the column and the dimensions of which are determined solely by the mechanical stresses to which it is subjected.

Also to improve the appearance of such supports Vas a rule they are provided with a suitable nish, for instance, a highly polished .chromium or nickel finish; however, as at least part of the column serves as a guide for the vertically slidable carriage in the known constructions, the polish on such a part wears off, which impairs the pleasing appearance of the device.

A further purpose of the present invention is to eliminate this objection.

According to the present invention the support consists of a column provided with a longitudinal slot along which can be suitably moved 45 an arm carrying the light source or the source of rays. In such an arrangement the guideway for the carriage can fall within the slot, and is thus more or less concealed. The carrying arm itself may be journaled in the carriage and by means of rollers or in other suitable manner horizontally moved so that the X-ray tube or other light source may be displaced both Vertically and horizontally.

To balance the weight of the carriage and of the armA a counterweight may be used, which is preferably arranged within the column.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, one form of construction well suited for the support `5 of'X-ray tubes 'will now be described more fully by way of example with reference to the accompanyng drawing in which:

Figure 1 isa vertical elevation of the support with the carriage shown partly in section. 10 Fig.. 2 is a horizontal section of the carriage along lines a-a of Fig. 1.

The'column of the support. is preferably formed of two symmetrical tubular members whichare so disposed relative to each other as to form a 15 longitudinal slot through which passes the carriage, the tubular members being secured to each other at the top and the bottom of the column.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing the 2G tubular members consist preferably of tubes I I having a trapezoid cross-section, the wide bases of which oppose eachother. The tubes I I are interconnected at the top and the bottom and are preferably made of sheet metal which is bent 2'5- to the proper shape.

Preferably the tubes are partly open at their Wide bases, to which are secured plates 3 3 of greater thickness, a slot 2 being formed between the plates 3 3 for the passage of the carriage. 30

The carriageV consists of two horizontally extending barmembers 1 1 which are adapted to move in the slot 2, their ends extending beyond the slot, and are interconnected by meansof two hood members 6 6 which are provided with 35. apertures lB-IS.- Y

The carriage is provided with two pairs of rollers 5 5, which are journaled at I 8 l8 and which bear on the end faces of the plates 3 3, which faces thus constitute the guideway for the 40 rollers 5 5.

Journaled at the inner faces of each of the bars 1 7 are two guide rollers 8 8 which support a horizontally slidable arm 9, the arm 9 extending beyond the carriage and passing though the two openings I G I 6 of the hoods 6 6.

The arm is designed to carry the light source, for instance, an X-ray tube, and is provided for this purpose at one of its ends (shown as the right end) with an adjustable clasp spring I0. On the other end the arm is provided with an end piece I1 which limits the movement of the arm towards the right. The arm carries a scale to indicate the amount of its horizontal displacement. 5 5

Thetubular members I-I are interconnected Y at their top by aV hollow conical head piece I I.v

YTo compensate for the Weight of the carriage,

Y of the arm and the X-ray tube, counterweights I-IV are provided, which are disposed within the hollow of the tubesI--Il The counterweights I4` I 4 have a cross-section substantiallyv conforming' to the cross-'section of the tube. I Y

YVA cable I3 is secured toy the top of eachof the counterweights Ill-I4 and passes over sheaves I2V-I2 mounted in the head portion of the col-V VVumn,VV the other end of the cables being secured at I9-I9 to the upper carriage `bar l.

i The support is preferablyA mounted on a movable and/or rotatable pedestal I5. Y Y

A rod I9 passing through the slot 2 and bearing Y Yon the hood members 6, is provided at one end upon the threaded end of rod I9 and slides along with a hand wheel 20 and threaded at its opposite endV as shown at 2|. Firmly secured to rod I9 is a small friction block 22, which slides along the right'hand end faces of the plates .'i-l.V A'second Vfriction block 23 similar to block 22,y is screwed the left hand end faces ofthe plates 3 3. By turning the hand wheel 20, the blocks 22 and 23 may be drawn tightly against the edges of plates Y Y 3--31and the position of the carriage on the .col-

umn adjusted'thereby. Y.

Y It will thus appear that my. novel construction provides for a fully balanced support for a movable light source, for instance, for an X-ray tube, in which the carriage and thearm-may be of a light construction, and at the same' time' any damage to Vthe Vfinish ofexposed portions of the Y column is avoided. Y

In the-claims the' vterm light source should 1 include also sources of rays, for instance,an X-ray tube.VV l

While I have described my invention in connection with'a specificexample and in a specic Vap- Y plication, I dovnot wishi to be limited to same, but

desire the appendedf claims to beconstrued as broadly as permissible ini view Vof the prior art.

What Irclaim as'new. anddesire to secure by Letters Patent ist Y Y Y,

VV15A support for an adjustably-mounted light source,YY comprisingfa .column Aconsist-ing of two complementary' tubularY members disposed Vin spacedrelationship to forma longitudinal slot between theiropposing faces, a carriage vertically slidable in said slot, a carrying arm horizontally slidable in' said carriage, counterweights for-the carriage and the arm, said'rcounterweights being slidably disposed within'said tubular members,

movably supported flexible membersinterconnecting said'counterweights andrcarriage, and

guiding means for said carriage, said means being protectively enclosed by said column.

2. A support for anV adjustably-mounted .light source, comprising a Vcolumn consisting of two tubular members mounted one opposite the other to form an intermediate space, said membersY being interconnected at their top and-bottom, a guide bar 'mounted on each member Within said space, a carriage disposed in said space andhaving portions extending therefrom on both sides of the column, said carriage being movable alongV said column, rollers pivotally-mounted on said extending portions and bearing on said guide bars tol vertically guide the carriage,V` an arm carrying the light source, said arm being slidably disposed within said carriage and being movable in its own vdirection through said space, a counterweight for said carriage, arm and light source, said counterweight having two parts each mounted in one of said members, and exible members movably supported at theV top of said column and intercon- Y necting said counterweight and carriage.

3. A support for an adjustably-mounted light source comprising, a vertical column4 formed of two tubularmembers of trapezoidal cross section interconnected at topand bottom, said members opposing `each other with their wide base and,V

source, a counterweight to balance said carriage and arm and having two parts mounted one Ywith-Y in each Ofsaidtubular members, and' flexible members interconnecting .said counterweight and said carriage and movably supported at'v the top of said column. I Y, 5 v4. A support for an adjustably-mounted light source comprising, a column having a longitudi- Y nally-extending .through-slot, metal .guide strips forming the walls of said slot, each stnp Yforming with the walls of the columna tubular shaft, a

Y carriage disposed within saidv slot and Yhaving portions extending therefrom, a plurality -o rollers pivotally mounted on said extending portions and bearing on said metal strips to guideY the carriage along said column, an arm slidably ,501

supported bysaid carriage and adapted to carry the light source, a counterweight having two parts each being slidablyrmounted within one of said shafts, and flexible members movably supportedYV atvthe top of said column and interconnecting said counterweight and carriage..

.Y MARINUS WILDEBOEVR. l 

